By EMANUEL AZIKEN

Three years after taking the oath of office as Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s anniversary address presents the picture of a leader who understands the weight of his mandate and has shown courage, focus and capacity in steering Plateau through one of its most difficult seasons. His speech was not a mere ceremonial roll call of promises, but a confident account of a governor who came into office amid insecurity, economic hardship, institutional weakness and public anxiety, yet has remained deliberate in the pursuit of peace, recovery and development.

From the tone and content of the address, one thing is clear: Mutfwang is on top of his game.

Governor Mutfwang’s strength lies first in his clear understanding of the condition of the state he inherited. He did not pretend that Plateau’s problems were light. He acknowledged insecurity, displacement, economic hardship, institutional decline and the erosion of public confidence in governance. But instead of using these challenges as excuses, he presented them as the very reasons his administration had to act boldly.

That is the mark of leadership. Mutfwang has shown that Plateau does not need noise; it needs order. It does not need empty politics; it needs restoration. It does not need division; it needs unity, peace and practical governance. His repeated declaration that “Plateau is rising again” is therefore not just a slogan. It is the summary of a rebuilding project touching security, civil service welfare, transport, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, water, energy, tourism and urban renewal.

No serious assessment of Plateau can ignore insecurity. For years, attacks on communities, displacement and destruction have threatened the state’s stability. Mutfwang recognised this early and placed security at the centre of his agenda. His administration has revitalised Operation Rainbow, recruited and trained over 2,000 community volunteers, launched an Emergency Communications Centre with a toll-free line, and established a Plateau State Activity Centre equipped with drones and CCTV cameras.

These are not symbolic gestures. They represent a modern security approach combining community intelligence, technology, emergency response and collaboration with federal security agencies. By speaking firmly against attacks, reprisals, cattle rustling, livestock poisoning, crop destruction, night grazing and underage herding, the governor also demonstrated balance and fairness. He made it clear that peace must be protected by justice and that no group has the right to threaten another.

One of the clearest signs that Mutfwang is on top of governance is his handling of the civil service. By clearing inherited salary arrears, ensuring regular salary payment, restoring promotions, supporting staff training and reconnecting government offices to electricity, he has restored morale to the engine room of government. Even more remarkable is the commitment of over ₦16 billion to pensions and gratuities, including arrears dating back several decades. This is not just an administrative achievement; it is a moral statement. For workers and pensioners who had waited for years, the administration has brought relief, dignity and renewed confidence.

The Tin City Metro Transport Service is another visible sign of practical governance. By subsidising transport for about 10,000 passengers daily, the government has directly reduced the cost of movement for ordinary citizens. At a time when economic pressure is heavy on households, this intervention puts money back into people’s pockets, improves urban mobility and creates jobs. The revival of inter-state transport and refurbishment of vehicles for routes such as Jos–Abuja show that the government is deliberately reconnecting the Plateau to wider economic opportunities.

The agreement with ValueJet for daily Lagos–Jos flights and four weekly Abuja–Jos flights is also significant. With arrangements progressing with United Nigeria Airlines, Mutfwang is positioning Plateau once again as a destination for business, tourism, conferences and investment.

In education, the governor’s record shows a leader looking beyond the present. By reducing tuition fees by 50 per cent for Plateau indigenes in state-owned tertiary institutions and increasing scholarship funding by 300 per cent, he has eased the burden on parents and expanded access for students. The construction of 397 classrooms, renovation of 557 others, drilling of boreholes and supply of furniture through SUBEB and AGILE show attention to the foundation of learning. The Mutfwang Legacy Scholarship Scheme, which has sent 200 students to India, with others studying in the United States and elsewhere, gives the state a bold human capital development profile.

The health sector has also witnessed significant progress. The upgrade of the Plateau State Specialist Hospital with modern laboratory equipment worth ₦2 billion, the recruitment of 22 consultants and five physiotherapists, and the supply of ultrasound machines to 17 general hospitals point to serious investment in medical services. The establishment of the Plateau State Drug and Medical Commodity Agency is a forward-looking step to improve access to affordable drugs and fight counterfeit medicine. Most impressive is the expansion of health insurance coverage from 93,605 beneficiaries in 2023 to 319,429 beneficiaries under PLASCHEMA through the Mutfwang-Care Initiative. That is governance with a human face.

Agriculture remains one of Plateau’s greatest strengths, and Mutfwang appears determined to unlock its full potential. The recovery of over 1,600 hectares of farmland previously abandoned due to insecurity speaks directly to the link between peace and productivity. The distribution of subsidised fertilisers worth over ₦20 billion, procurement of seedlings and agrochemicals worth ₦4 billion, and investment of ₦2 billion in mechanisation show commitment to farmers. The ongoing Special Agro-Processing Zone, Potato Tissue Culture Lab and modern abattoir also point to a governor thinking beyond subsistence farming toward value addition, processing and industrialisation.

The governor’s infrastructure record is also strong. With not less than 500 kilometres of roads already asphalted and over 2,000 kilometres expected to be completed, alongside more than 70 projects being executed by government agencies, the administration is pursuing an ambitious connectivity agenda. Roads are economic lifelines. They connect farmers to markets, patients to hospitals, children to schools, tourists to destinations and communities to opportunity.

In water, energy and urban renewal, the government has also shown seriousness. The ₦30 billion Langtang North water project, the revived Langtang North Water Scheme, the commissioned Yelwa Club Water Treatment Plant and the 25-kilometre pipeline in Jos South demonstrate practical service delivery. In energy, partnerships with the Rural Electrification Agency and private investors, mini-grid projects, the E-HEART Programme, solar mini-grids in parts of Qua’an Pan and the distribution of 70 transformers show a government working to light up communities and stimulate local economies.

Mutfwang’s declaration of a state of emergency on the environment, revival of monthly sanitation and increase of street sweepers’ stipends from ₦8,000 to ₦30,000 show attention to everyday quality of life. In tourism, the fencing of Jos Wildlife Park, upgrade of Mado Tourist Village, rehabilitation of Solomon Lar Amusement Park and remodelling of Plateau and Hill Station Hotels point to a deliberate effort to restore Plateau’s pride.

His political move from the PDP to the APC was one of the boldest decisions of his administration. He framed it as a step taken in the interest of Plateau’s growth, political stability and long-term progress. Whether critics agree or not, the move showed political courage and positioned the state for stronger federal collaboration.

After three years, Mutfwang’s message is clear: Plateau has suffered, but Plateau is not defeated. The state has been wounded, but it is healing. His administration has shown seriousness in security, compassion in worker welfare, vision in education, ambition in infrastructure, innovation in transport, commitment in healthcare, focus in agriculture and boldness in political strategy.

Indeed, Governor Caleb Mutfwang is not merely surviving the demands of office. He is governing with confidence, focus and direction. The plateau is rising again, and Mutfwang is clearly on top of his game.

• Aziken is a seasoned journalist and public affairs analyst.

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